A Curtain, A Facade
Hi Everyone,
I hope all is well. I am sharing a vision today that the Lord gave me this past Wednesday. I believe that everyone can relate to this vision for it is either where we are now, or where we have been at some point in our past.
The Vision
The Curtain
In the vision, I saw a curtain that was hung by it’s metal grommets placed along the heading, or top edge of the curtain. Plastic zip ties were inserted through the grommets and secured tightly to a rod. The curtain was made of a woven fabric that was printed with blue and white. There were no distinct shapes, patterns or lines separating the two colors. It was very ethereal like clouds in the sky that seem to softly blend from blue to white. The curtain was draped as a flat panel, there were no folds, pleats or shirring.
After praying, I believe that I understood what the vision meant.
The purpose of a curtain is to provide a visual barrier. A shower curtain is a perfect example It gives the person showering a bit of privacy, concealing what should not be seen. It also acts as a water barrier keeping water in the bathtub or shower. Most shower curtains have grommets or button holes along the heading of the curtain, where decorative hooks or rings are inserted. These hooks or rings attach the curtain to the rod, and allow the entire curtain to slide smoothly across the rod. Hooks and rings that can be removed allow the curtain to be taken down periodically to be cleaned.
There are different types of curtains that perform similar but different functions. A theatrical curtain, hides the stage until the set and performers are ready to be revealed. A blackout curtain blocks out the sunlight, for those who need to sleep during the day. A sheer drapery allows light to filter into the room, but reduces the visibility of the street, or hides what may be a distraction. Insulated curtains can be a barrier to heat or cold. Curtains at trade shows are used as a room dividers separating one exhibit from another. In a hospital setting the curtain separates one patient from another.
Curtains can be used to conceal the actions and choices people make, as in a voting booth. And they are perfect for playing “hide and go seek,” provided the curtains touch the floor.
In the old movies, it was always the villain who hid behind the curtain until it was the time to come out.
In an old movie, “The Wizard of OZ,” it was the “wizard,” who hid behind a curtain in order to conceal his true identity. When the curtain accidentally opened, we hear him say: “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” By the opening of the curtain the ruse was exposed. The wizard, was nothing more than an ordinary man that wanted to be somebody of importance.
This last example of a curtain concealing someone’s identity is what I believe this vision is about.
People have a tendency to hide behind the things that offer protection, or things in which they place their trust. Children hide behind their mothers when there is a stranger that threatens them. Sometimes people hide their identity because they fear rejection. Women in the past would hide their true identity in order to do a job that only men were allowed to do. Women writers would use a man’s name as their “nom de plume.” Even Benjamin Franklin used a pen name, in order to have his writings published by his brother James Franklin, who founded a newspaper “the New-England Courant.” Ben Franklin, pretended to be a female author, “Mrs. Silence Dogood.” He could express his opinions without any fear of social, political or financial consequences.
But more often than not, we hide what we are ashamed of. This manner of hiding sin, hiding facts and things of the past can cause us to become spiritually bound. The devil works in the minds of people. He works to deceive them, to cause fear and doubt, and to tie people up with the fear of man: “What will people think about me? What will they say? What will they do? I won’t be able to show my face there again. I won’t be able to keep my job, or my ministry, or my reputation!” What if my family finds out?”
Do you see the fear of man can truly cause bondage? The devil wants to torment his victims with fear. He does not want sin to be exposed, for the game will be over and he will be left with nothing. That is why the Bible tells us to confess our sins one to another. When we allow our sins to be exposed, the devil cannot play his cards of shame, guilt, condemnation, self-pity, fear of loss, fear of exposure, etc.
“And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10
When we walk in the light we will thwart the schemes of the wicked one, and we will walk in the freedom that the Lord made possible with his death on the cross.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.” Ephesians 5:8-13
In the vision, the curtain was white and blue. White generally denotes purity, righteousness, and holiness. Blue in the Bible represents God, godliness, and heaven. The curtain having both the white and the blue appears to represents all these things, which come as fruits of the Spirit. These are things that we value and consider worthy, perfect, and godly. But they are characteristics of God and not of the natural man. We are sinful by nature as the Word of God declares:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The venom of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery lie in their wake, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18
The two colors of blue and white and what they represent are the things that Christians try to hide behind. It is the facade that becomes a false testimony of us. We as Christians want to display godly behavior and have godly speech. We want to have the respect of our fellow believers, and we do not want them to see our faults and our lack of self-control, or our sinful habits or tendencies. The desire to fit in, to be accepted, is natural. We love the accolades and honor of being perceived as a leader, an elder, a pastor, a minister, a man or woman of God, a prayer warrior, a worshipper, a seer, a prophet, a teacher…
But to receive the praise of God, we must show forth the fruit of the Spirit which is not something that we can manufacture. The fruit of the Spirit comes from the Spirit of God living within in us, The Holy Spirit transforms us into his image. It only comes as we fully surrender to the will of God and choose to be obedient to his commands. It comes as a result of abiding in him.
“I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.” John 15:5-8
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
The fruit of the Spirit develops in us as we say “No,” to our sinful flesh, and “Yes,” to the Lord.
Without the Holy Spirit, we will only allow people to see our curtain or facade. We will continue to hide our true selves from others. The front that we put up to make us appear righteous, holy or devout is an illusion. It is a lie. It is hypocrisy. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their false fronts and airs that they put on to seem godly and worthy of respect.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.“ Matthew 23:27-28
Hypocrisy is really form of lying. We say one thing but do another. We hide our true selves behind a mask or facade because we want to appear righteous and holy. When we lie and do not tell the truth we deceive ourselves and become a partner of the devil. For the devil appeared as an angel of light, to deceive.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
I know this is a hard message, but it is necessary to understand that if we sin, there is only one way to be forgiven, and that is turning to God with a contrite heart (having godly sorrow over our sins) and repent, which means to change our minds, to change our priorities, to go another way—God’s way). It is not merely bowing our heads and saying, “Sorry, Lord,” and no effort is made to change. That is not repentance. That is only an “Oops, I guess that wasn’t right.” Repentance is a decision to surrender to the Lord and commit our ways to him. It involves the fear of God. Without the fear of God there is no genuine salvation.
If we truly surrender our wills to the Lord, and recognize that our sin separates us from God, and condemns us to hell, then we will be properly prepared to receive God’s mercy, his love and forgiveness. He is the one who sees our change of heart and our desire to be right with him. He will forgive our sins, cleanse our hearts, and restore us to a right standing with him, when we have a genuine desire to become his disciple.
If we try to justify ourselves before him, thinking that we we are “pretty good,” or if we assume that we are included in those who are forgiven just because we call ourselves Christians, or come from a Christian home, our sins will remain. Look at this passage of scripture and think, ponder, consider what the Lord is saying:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23
Who are these people that Jesus is speaking of? They are people who go their own way and do their own thing without considering God. They do things to please themselves and often with wrong motives. They do things to be seen by others, they do things to bring themselves honor. They are building their own kingdoms as they appear to build God’s kingdom.
(Woe to me! I see myself, in every post. I see my weaknesses and my own sins whenever I write. Lord help me! As I write, the conviction of the Holy Spirit falls upon me. Forgive me Lord, and help me to overcome my own flesh and its weaknesses!)
How can we be cut loose from this facade? From the hypocrisy, lies, and self interest?
If you remember the curtain in the vision was held fast by the zip ties. They were laced through the grommets and pulled snuggly, so that the curtain was not easily moved or removed for cleaning. But nothing is impossible for God. He knows how to cut us free. The Lord sees our weaknesses and our hearts. He tells us that the truth will set us free. We need to share the truth about ourselves, our sin, our weaknesses. We need to confess our sins, and he will forgive us and set us in right standing with himself.
However, even after confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness, we still have an enemy that will try to pull us down. He will try to get us to fall for the same tricks he used before. He wants us to succumb to the same patterns of behavior and into the same mental pathways. But it is up to us to overcome.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God, resist the devil and he will flee.” James 4:7
It is up to us to enter into the process of sanctification and become a true disciple. We have heard that the mind is the devil’s playground. We have to guard our hearts and our minds. We have to be transformed by the Word of God. It is a process.
The Lord gives us the desire to live a holy life. He gives us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to help us to resist the devil, and flee temptation. But we have to follow through with staying connected with the Lord through prayer. By staying connected to the body of Christ, the church, we can receive the help and support of other believers. And by studying the Word of God everyday we will experience a transformation of our hearts and our minds. Our goals are to know the Lord intimately, to feed on the Word of God everyday, and be obedient to do his will.
For those who continue to struggle, deliverance is available. The Lord wants all his creation to follow him, for he died on our behalf as payment for our sins. He wants none to be lost. A full gospel church who believes in the gifts of the Spirit and moves in the power of the Holy Spirit can help you to be set free. I have written on this topic in several of my posts. Deliverance happens when we take authority over the spirits that are working to undermine our faith. These evil spirits, like the devil, come to kill, to steal, and to destroy.
However, when we are walking with the Lord, and are fully surrendered to him, we will have the authority to command the spirits to leave, in the name of Jesus. And especially for the one being delivered, it is important for him to renounce the devil, and his demons and every work of darkness that has penetrated and set up house in his mind or in his body.
We declare that God Almighty is a triune God, one God, yet three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We declare our allegiance to our Lord Jesus, who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is God! We acknowledge his death on the cross and the blood he shed as payment for our sins. We ask the Lord to forgive us for the sins that opened the doors to the evil spirits, giving them the “right” to invade and torment us. We renounce any agreement that we made with the devil or his demons. We renounce all forms of evil that we have engaged in. We ask for the Lord to Baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire which is a supernatural empowerment to overcome our flesh and move in the power of God to fulfill his purpose in our lives.
The Lord, who sees the sincerity of our heart and our willingness to follow him in faith and in obedience to his word, will deliver us and baptize us with fire and the Holy Spirit. Having the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, gives us strength and power to overcome the devil, flee temptation and stay free.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
So let us come out from behind the curtain.
It is possible that we may not see or recognize the sheer curtain in front of us, for it does receive a bit of filtered light. And it is possible to see through it a bit. But God does not want us to be satisfied with the little that we see. The Lord came to set the captives free. He does not want us to be complacent, to compromise with the world, or be lukewarm.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.
Revelation 3:15-16 and 19
Some of us may have a full blackout curtain that we are putting up as a facade. There may be some sin that we want totally blocked from view. This curtain must come down, for hidden sin will eventually become total darkness and will lead to apostasy, turning away from God.
“…people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19-20
Do not fall for the devil’s schemes. Call upon the Lord! And call a pastor, a true God fearing believer who can lead you through deliverance. You can be set free.
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15
And Jesus said:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
Thanks for reading. Please share this message with everyone that needs to be free! God bless you!
